Woman dies in crash on Chula Vista freeway

A woman was killed after losing control of her car in the rain on northbound I-805 at Telegraph Canyon Road and becoming lodged underneath the trailer of a big rig, according to the CHP. CHP investigators looked over the crash scene after the victim had been removed.
— John Gibbins

A woman was killed after losing control of her car in the rain on northbound I-805 at Telegraph Canyon Road and becoming lodged underneath the trailer of a big rig, according to the CHP. CHP investigators looked over the crash scene after the victim had been removed.
— John Gibbins

Chula Vista  A motorist died Tuesday when her car spun out on rain-slicked Interstate 805 in Chula Vista and slid beneath a big-rig trailer, which then dragged the car for 100 feet, the California Highway Patrol reported.

The victim was identified by the Medical Examiner's Office as Gloria Elizabeth T. O'Connor, 42, of Chula Vista.

She was driving a Mazda 6 two-door sedan in the slow lane and the tractor-trailer was in the lane next to her when she lost control of the car, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Athans said.

“It was raining at the time,” Athans said. “It looks like speed was a factor. Both vehicles were going under the speed limit, but she was going too fast for conditions. Her car began to hydroplane and fishtail.”

The Mazda hit the front of the big-rig, spun in a full circle and ended up under the trailer, Athans said. The truck driver braked but traveled about 100 feet before coming to a stop. It dragged the car, which left gouges in the pavement.

Passers-by stopped and tried to help.

Athans said no obvious puddles were in the left freeway lane that might have played a part in sending the Mazda out of control.

The truck trailer was empty and the driver, from Ohio, was on his way to Yuma, Ariz., to pick up a load, Athans said. He said he did not know what type of load was awaiting pickup.